Student group

Accelerating social impact

Better nonprofits for better communities.


Nonprofit and philanthropic organizations are essential social institutions that enhance the quality of life in our communities. At the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, we educate, empower and connect nonprofit leaders. Our work makes nonprofits and their teams better, accelerating social impact.

Latest news

Ricardo Tenorio PAAZ Service Day

April 2, 2025 — During his time with the 2023-24 cohort of Public Allies Arizona, Ricardo Tenorio made waves in the fight against homelessness....

Arizona nonprofits react to federal changes

March 26, 2025 — In the weeks following a series of executive orders reducing federal funding, including grants to nonprofits, Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation gauged the reactions of the state’s nonprofit community with a comprehensive survey....

Stormy Skies Over a Desert Landscape

Report from the ASU Lodestar Center details the impacts of new federal policies on Arizona nonprofits March 19, 2025 — In early 2025, the second Trump administration began a series of budget-cutting maneuvers, funding freezes and firings of government workers....

Nonprofit Management Institute

The ASU Lodestar Center's Nonprofit Management Institute offers flexible professional development options, networking opportunities, and the knowledge and tools you need to succeed. Our programs are open to individuals of all educational backgrounds and levels of experience who are seeking continuing education, from staff and management to volunteers and board members, as well as private-sector professionals seeking a career change.

Nonprofit Management Institute logo

Serving professionals and volunteers, new and seasoned

Research and resources

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Nonprofit Compensation and Benefits Report

This survey, conducted every three years, provides essential data on dozens of job titles and employee benefits for Maricopa and Pima county nonprofits.

Sedona

Scope of the Arizona Nonprofit Sector

Use this interactive tool to understand and research nonprofit organizations, grantmakers, charitable giving and volunteering, and the nonprofit sector’s contribution to the Arizona economy.

Planting seeds

Ask the Nonprofit Specialists

Do you have questions about starting and running a nonprofit organization? We have answers. Based on common queries we receive, this resource will help your organization succeed.

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Nonprofit Social Innovation Hub

We launched the Nonprofit Social Innovation Hub during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the incredible innovation we were seeing in the nonprofit and philanthropic community. Some nonprofits adopted new technology to continue their services; others pivoted to new business models to fulfill their missions. Within the Hub, you will find ideas and inspiration from your colleagues throughout the state.

Explore the stories

Our events

A photo of a crowd of people during an ASU Lodestar Center conference.

Conferences and forums

Our convenings stimulate thought about best practices of nonprofit leadership and management, provide high-level training on critical issues facing the nonprofit sector, and share the latest research findings.

Panelists at an October 2018 PhilanthropyMatters event

PhilanthropyMatters Speaker Series

PhilanthropyMatters focuses on the "who, how and what" of philanthropy, featuring nationally recognized speakers and leading-edge programming for the field.

Find your next career opportunity on the region's largest Nonprofit Job Board Go to the Nonprofit Job Board